"Don't you mind what that mean thing says," whispered Pearl Harrod, quickly.
She had seen Ruth flush hotly and the tears spring to Agnes' eyes when Trix Severn had spoken so ill-naturedly. The younger Corner House girls did not hear, but Ruth and Agnes were hurt to the quick.
"You are very, very kind, Pearl," said Ruth. "But we had thought of going to the tent colony----"
"Didn't Trix Severn ask you to her place?" demanded Pearl, hotly. "I _know_ she did. And now she insults you. If she hadn't asked you first, and seemed so thick with your sister, Ruth, I would have insisted long ago that you all come to uncle's bungalow. There's plenty of room, for my aunt and the girls won't be down for a fortnight."
"I'll be mad if you don't agree--now I know that Trix has released you, Ruth Kenway," cried the good-hearted girl. "Now, don't let's say another word about it."
"Oh, don't be angry!" begged Ruth. "But won't it look as though we _were_ begging our way--as Trix says?"
"You--you are very kind," said Ruth, yielding at length.
"Then you come on. Hey, girls!" she shouted, running after her own particular friends who were climbing aboard the rear car. "I've gotten them to promise. The Corner House girls are going with us--for two weeks, anyway."
At once the other girls addressed cheered and gathered the four Kenways into their group, with great rejoicing. The sting of Trix Severn's unkindness was forgotten.
Mr. Howbridge, their guardian, came to the station to see them off, and shook hands with Ruth through the window of the car. When the train actually moved away, Neale O'Neil was there in the crowd, swinging his cap and wishing them heaps of fun. Neale expected to go to Pleasant Cove himself, later in the season.
This last car of the special train was a day coach; but the light-hearted girls did not mind the lack of conveniences and comforts to be obtained in the chair cars. The train was supposed to arrive at Pleasant Cove by three o'clock, and a five hour ride on a hot June day was only "fun" for the Corner House girls and their friends.
Ruth first of all got the brakeman to turn over a seat so that she and her three sisters could sit facing each other. Mrs. MacCall had put them up a nice hamper of luncheon and the older girl knew this would be better enjoyed if the seats were thus arranged.